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[Mr_Orange]

Read this morning from the Telegraph that Duckett will definitely play and it's up to Cook whether that's opening or in the middle order with Hameed opening and Ballance dropped.

[Kulli]

Is there ever any need for more than three spinners unless you don't back them, in theory three should
Pretty much be able to bowl all day.

[petehosk]

We should be ok with 3 spinners plus Root to turn his arm if he is required!

Looks like it should be one of two options:

Option 1
1. Cook
2. Hameed
3. Root
4. Duckett
5. Ali
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow
8. Woakes
9. Rashid
10. Batty
11. Broad

Option 2:
1. Cook
2. Duckett
3. Root
4. Ballance
5. Ali
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow
8. Woakes
9. Rashid
10. Batty
11. Broad

I would prefer to see option 1 but I guess the final call is with Cook by the sounds of it!

[ppccopener]

Option 1 with 3 seamers and three spinners and look how far down we bat.....

it's got to be that side. Balance is a very good cricketer but I think Duckett is going to be given a run out.

England are not as timid selection wise as we have been in the past. We could have a teenager opening the batting in a test, think back......how long since that happened? Cook at 21 is the youngest to debut I can remember in recent times.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!! 

[petehosk]

Option 1 with 3 seamers and three spinners and look how far down we bat.....

If Ansari got the nod over Batty, the batting would be even stronger as Ansari is a mid-order batsman!
So he would probably bat at 8, Woakes at 9, Rashid at 10 and Broad at 11...that would be crazy!
But I kind of agree that with the changes we have made, plus playing Ali and Rashid, we really need Batty as the controlling spinner and not have another newby playing just yet!

[WalkingWicket37]

Just seen a creative suggestion on BBC Sport as to how you could get Buttler and Bairstow in the same side:

People talk about who should keep wicket. The game evolves & changes all the time. So why do we not play a different keeper in each innings, so each player only keeps for 1-2 days max? Also it would create healthy competition between the 2, and keep both their eyes in at the top level.

[smilley792]

I personally don't believe Ali will be at five. No matter the line up.

[smilley792]

Just seen a creative suggestion on BBC Sport as to how you could get Buttler and Bairstow in the same side:

With ducket hammeed  and ballance all fighting over 2 batting spots, buttler isn't gonna get a look in. Well for the first test atleast.

[WalkingWicket37]

With ducket hammeed  and ballance all fighting over 2 batting spots, buttler isn't gonna get a look in. Well for the first test atleast.

Hameed will open and Duckett will go four I think, with Ballance getting axed again.

As for Buttler I don't think he should be in the Test side, but it seems a lot of people want him in (they must have watched a different County Championship season to me...)

[petehosk]

I personally don't believe Ali will be at five. No matter the line up.

As I said previously, I would prefer to see Bairstow at 5 and Ali at 7.
And why not give Bairstow the gloves for the first innings. Then (assuming Duckett hasn't been batting for days) give Duckett the gloves for the 2nd innings?

[northernboy1987]

As for Buttler I don't think he should be in the Test side, but it seems a lot of people want him in (they must have watched a different County Championship season to me...)

I'm with you here, I think as outrageously talented as Buttler is he hasn't payed red ball cricket for a significant period of time and is our white ball superstar, why try and shoehorn him into the Test side when there are others arguably more deserving of a go?

[ppccopener]

I'm with you here, I think as outrageously talented as Buttler is he hasn't payed red ball cricket for a significant period of time and is our white ball superstar, why try and shoehorn him into the Test side when there are others arguably more deserving of a go?

forum split on this one isn't it?  it's like m and h and now the new free for all NB grey imports(I didn't comment because to be quite frank, I didn't know 'what was going off out there')

@WalkingWicket37 ....nice bloke, big unit i'm not arguing with him and part nutter,er sorry,scottish

Butler has got huuuuuuge talent, England management want him in and I reckon he should be in lower middle order.He's a better keeper than Bairstow...but I think it's one of Jos or YJB, there's no space for both you can see?

and YJB there's no way you can leave him out. Excellent player the lad is...and he has possession of the gloves going forward.

Personally I don't think Bairstow will become a good enough keeper long term. But of course I could be completely wrong 

[WalkingWicket37]

The thing is, talent doesn't always mean success at the highest level (see Graham Hick and Mark Ramprakash)
While there's no doubting Buttler is a very talented player, he didn't exactly set the world alight in the Test arena. What's more, he doesn't blast tons for fun in the County Championship like a certain YJB did when he was told to make runs and win his place back.

He's certainly in England's plans, but how will they get him into the side?

As for Bairstow's keeping - he's no Chris Read, but...
Matt Prior wasn't great when he first made the England side, and people were saying his glove work  wasn't good enough. He turned out alright, didn't he? Give Jonny time and he could become a great of the game - stranger things have happened...

[ppccopener]

The thing is, talent doesn't always mean success at the highest level (see Graham Hick and Mark Ramprakash)
While there's no doubting Buttler is a very talented player, he didn't exactly set the world alight in the Test arena. What's more, he doesn't blast tons for fun in the County Championship like a certain YJB did when he was told to make runs and win his place back.

He's certainly in England's plans, but how will they get him into the side?

As for Bairstow's keeping - he's no Chris Read, but...
Matt Prior wasn't great when he first made the England side, and people were saying his glove work  wasn't good enough. He turned out alright, didn't he? Give Jonny time and he could become a great of the game - stranger things have happened...

very true big fella. Prior ended up a very good keeper towards the end of his career.He was excellent all round for England.

Ramprakash(he's from my area, ive met him -lovely bloke) remained a mystery to me until he retired, watched all his career and no one has been technically more gifted.

YJB is a hard worker, keeping in Bangladesh is going to be hard work. Top player.

[six and out]

i really think these 2 next series will make or break YJB's career to be either an England Batsman or England Batsman/Wicketkeeper.

Keeping in the sub-continent shows up all your weaknesses and will physically test him to the limit but at the same time will give him the opportunity to show the world he can really do the job long term.